Anyone but the Congress is the feeling in most circles atm. Can't blame them. Not voting for the right wing BJP-Sena pricks and not voting for Congress either. Aam Aadmi is a joke. Won't vote for any contestant.

what? elections in india tomorrow? Recently This thread has been more about the culinary delights of various regions rather than the elections

And smalishah's avatar is the most classy one by far Jan certainly echoes the sentiments of CW

Yeah we don't crap in the first world; most of us would actually have no idea what that was emanating from Ajmal's backside. Why isn't it roses and rainbows like what happens here? PEWS's retort to Ganeshran on Daemon's picture depicting Ajmal's excreta

Modi and his joker list of contestants and Loonies seems likely coming to Power. Only few things can stop them at this stage.

First time India will be ruled by such Fringe Looney right wing elements otherwise.

I am Supporting/Voting for AAP only. The whole Idea/basis of AAP, the list of contestant they have put up and brought into politics countrywide, their manifesto/Campaigning methods all is most attractive by a large large distance even though they aren't perfect or such and i dislike certain things about the party.

Also need to break the status quo as much as possible. Electoral intervention required.

Kejriwal is not interested in the democratic process. He is interested in anarchy. If we let a **** like hi set a precedent now with good intentions, no one is stopping guys with bad intentions to do the same. He is a piece of **** who thinks his morals trump anyone else's and his methods shouldn't be encouraged in a democratic setup.

No wait, Kejriwal is Ra's al Ghul.
Wants to root out corruption, is not interested in money. Very dogmatic. On the microscopic level is very meticulous in how he's started off, but is extremely impatient and engages in anarchist methods to achieve his loftier goals.

Rahul Gandhi is Two-Face. Idealistic in that he's trying to establish internal democracy in the INC with grass root level elections within the party, but ultimately too dumb to see that he doesn't matter. Despite his ****-ups, he'll still held up by the INC as the saviour of the masses.

Priyanka Gandhi is Talia. Biding her time to make a dramatic entrance after Rahul Gandhi inevitably perishes.

Modi is Bane. No explanation required.

Okay, I realise that Priyanka doesn't control Modi, but I didn't say my analogies were perfect.

Sanjay Gandhi- Eddard Stark. Rose in importance during the Emergency years ago. Escaped numerous assassination attempts before meeting a shocking and abrupt end

Narendra Modi- Stannis Baratheon. Considers himself the rightful heir and will do anything to get the throne. Follows and practices a particular religion but takes it to controversial and dangerous extemes. His loyalists call him a determined, forceful commander, while his critics call him a fanatical zealot.

Rajnath Singh- Melisandre. Is absolutely driven to bring Modi to power and believes he is the chosen one. Whispers have begin whether he influences Modi by subtly coaxing him into decisions he himself wants for his own ends.

LK Advani- Renly Baratheon. Was an influential leader but his claim to power has been cut short by sinister forces. His own supporters have deserted him. Speaks like a girl and is probably gay

Arvind Kejriwal- Danaerys Targaryen. An outsider who is rising in influence. Is the all powerful saviour of all people in the land, or so he thinks.

Anna Hazare- Viserys Targaryen.Arvind's big brother. Thought he was the most influential man in the universe. Has been thrust aside by his own misjudgement and Arvind's rise to power.

Somnath Bharti- Khal Drogo. Is a savage, vengeful soul who doesn't know how to speak the common tongue without embarrassing himself. But he dearly loves Arvind, and he him.They vow to protect each other. "My moon and stars"

Chidambaram- Peter Baelish "Littlefinger". The master of Coin. Runs a treasury which plunges deeper into debt every week. However, his mastery over simultanously sweet and slimy words allows him to wriggle out of trouble with ease.

Arnab Goswami- Lord Varys.The Lord of Whisperers. Incites infighting between all the houses intentionally or inadvertently. Like Littlefinger is a master of slimy verbal stabs. Insists he does everything for the good of the realm but no one believes him because he's a eunuch.

Kejriwal is not interested in the democratic process. He is interested in anarchy. If we let a **** like hi set a precedent now with good intentions, no one is stopping guys with bad intentions to do the same. He is a piece of **** who thinks his morals trump anyone else's and his methods shouldn't be encouraged in a democratic setup.

What methods ? Exactly what has he done ? 3 CM's have sat on protest against Central govt. after him and many before him.

This is a country where Political parties burn down toll booths to protest recently (Shiv Sena, MNS).... Broke buses and stopped trains in Bihar (BJP), Called all India Bandhs for FDI in retail protest (BJP, Left, SP etc..).

And i am not even mentioning the incidents of allowing and fostering riots for political gains like Muzzafarnagar and others in UP recently.

You have lost sense of proportion and been a bit too much influenced by Crony media if you think he is not interested in democratic process and all that.

What methods ? Exactly what has he done ? 3 CM's have sat on protest against Central govt. after him and many before him.

This is a country where Political parties burn down toll booths to protest recently (Shiv Sena, MNS).... Broke buses and stopped trains in Bihar (BJP), Called all India Bandhs for FDI in retail protest (BJP, Left, SP etc..).

And i am not even mentioning the incidents of allowing and fostering riots for political gains like Muzzafarnagar and others in UP recently.

Sorry, to say you have lost sense of proportion and been a bit brainwashed by Crony media if you think he is not interested in democratic process and all that ****.

I'm tired if this. Time and again you're pointing out what other ****ty parties are doing. Well yeah we know they do terrible stuff and some of the stuff is far worse than anything AAP has done. But it seems you're trying to justify the AAP's mistakes by saying " Well there are some who are worse". Of course there are but the fact that you're not even actually defending AAP and just saying they're not the worst thing out there proves our point. AAP are a bunch of cronies too.

I'm tired if this. Time and again you're pointing out what other ****ty parties are doing. Well yeah we know they do terrible stuff and some of the stuff is far worse than anything AAP has done. But it seems you're trying to justify the AAP's mistakes by saying " Well there are some who are worse". Of course there are but the fact that you're not even actually defending AAP and just saying they're not the worst thing out there proves our point. AAP are a bunch of cronies too.

In Politics ofcourse you will have to do protests and draw attention to yourself including sm drama. AAP overdid it at times in a hurry to do things before LS elections and under huge amount of pressure, but nothing they or specifically Kejriwal did was harmful as such was my point in response to him saying they don't beleive in democratic means and that ****.

If that is dangerous for democracy then that and worse has been happening in India for last 60 years and democracy has survived. Let's not let that sidetrack from the core of the issues.

For example They also highlighted the gas pricing issue and saved money for the exchequer through EC temporarily recently in their own rash manner when nobody else was doing it or raising it politically. And how are they cronies and of whom ? Didn't get it.

Is AAP perfect ? No. Are they dangerous for democracy ? Hell No. There is a huge gap between the 2. If you find sm1 better then i am all ears.

Besides AAP now is a much bigger concept than just Kejriwal who will probably won't even get elected from Varanasi given communal polarization. It's a evolving concept but i like the Idea of AAP fundamentally. It is a very welcome intervention whether you agree with 1/2 incidents or not.

Basically this post by Mahesh Murthy explains my views to a degree very well.

"Yaar, we all know Mukesh and Gautam (Adani) will make lots more money when Modi comes to power. But we'll also make some money na. So why are you opposing him, man?"

I was pinged this yesterday by a very-well-known, very-well-to-do entrepreneur pal of mine.

Why indeed?

Why not make hay when the sun's gonna shine?

I'm a true-blue capitalist, and by all accounts I should be supporting Modi - instead of the socialist-sop-wielding Congress or the not-sure-if-they're-Communist-or-not AAP. Right?

But here's what I figured. The Congress is like the Chinese or North Korean government - socialist in name only and corrupt billionaires to the core themselves.

While the BJP is like the earlier Mexican government - basically run to the whims and fancies of billionaire cement-to-telecom owner Carlos Slim. It was proud for some Mexicans to see Carlos Slim become the richest man in the world - but the price of that was higher costs for every citizen in the country for basic necessities and a near-collapse of the country. And a second, more dangerous price paid was the decay of every government institution into a cesspool of corruption.

Sure Modi will be more business-friendly - if the rampaging stock market is to be believed. Antilla will grow even taller.

As Modi lovers say "Modi will bring progress." All I'll add is "...to Ambani and Adani, not to you and me".

Modi will bring with him an era of big business deciding on government policy - and examples are already abound, with the Modi government recommending a price of $14 per million BTUs of gas to be paid out of our pockets to Reliance instead of their earlier committed $2.34 per mBTU - and in the other billionaire Adani getting land and government infrastructure at throw away prices in BJP-led Rajasthan.

BJP's difference with the Congress will basically be that instead of the government stealing from us and keeping it all only for themselves, this time they'll steal from us, and give it to the Ambanis and Adanis, apart from keeping a lot for themselves - after all, the BJP still has stalwart-thieves like Yeddyurappa, Sriramulu and Solanki at their core.

What does this do to our future? Every institution in the country gets even more rotten. In a time where I want my kids to grow up in a country where they have an equality of opportunity, I wonder if they'll be arrested for crashing a car while the Akash Ambanis get off scot-free by gifting Audis to all accident victims and making some poor driver take the fall in court instead.

I'd like our government institutions to mean something. My dad served in the Armed Forces for 30 years - and today it's a place where you can't get to be chief unless you approve the purchase of expensive weaponry that the ruling politicians get a kickback on.

I'd like the government to be a place where good people join and work. Not people who want a sure-fire way to make money. Once upon a time, it was a matter of pride to be in the IAS. Today, mention you're in government service and the other person eyes you as if to think "Kitna khaata hoga"

Today, how many of you really want your kids to work in government or policy? I'm sure even the Modi-fans among you will say "Nahin yaar - gandi jagah hai". Well, folks, your support to Modi and his bunch of corrupt capitalist backers will make the jagah stay ganda for longer.

There's no point having a Telecom regulator, when Mukesh Ambani and Ratan Tata use Niira Radia to fix who the next telecom minister is going to be.

There's no point in having a contract with the government, when a private company like Reliance can get ministers like Jaipal Reddy, Mani Shankar Aiyar and others changed to help them break the contracts and rip us off more.

This short-term thinking - let's get a corrupt government that is big-business friendly for a change - is what will keep India a rotting carcass for even longer. It's not a temporary measure - "we should get a honest government after 5 years because AAP is not ready" as some say.

These 5 years are what we are poised to grow in, after the Congress and NCP raped us for the last 10 years. And if the BJP coalition win 272 seats, these 5 years will not be very different from the Congress, with more big sops to the Ambanis and Adanis - not to mention all the coalition partners who will have to be given "plum" ministries to plunder as a price for their support. We will have even more A Rajas getting even more kickbacks.

Believe me, all that stock market boom you're seeing now will dissipate in six months when people, the market and foreign institutions see that it's not a new government - but the same government with different faces. As a Congress (I) friend of mine says - "hum ne bahut khaa liya. Ab paanch saal hajam karenge, inko ab khaane do. Phir vaapis aa jaayenge."

This is not the change we must be voting for.

Sure, I'm told, all this is fine, Arvind Kejriwal is a good guy but he really can't form a government, can he?

Many people in Delhi thought so- so he landed up with only 28 seats. But once people saw he could come to power, and make a difference, many more were ready to vote for him and his party. I understood they would have won 50 out of 70 seats if people knew others were also voting for them. Media didn't help them - they almost never covered the AAP, till after the win. Media's doing the same now.

That's all it takes - your vote. Don't worry about who you think others are voting for. Don't worry about what you read in the papers or watch on TV. Forget the opinion polls, exit polls, whatever. Vote your heart and vote your conscience. Vote for the folks who can give you the country you want to live in, and your kids to grow up in. Your vote, every vote, every seat will make a difference.

Sure, not every candidate these AAP guys put up is perfect. But at least they throw out candidates if a rotten one turns up - unlike other parties who promote the crooks. There's a process here to ensure integrity - while there's nothing as such in the Congress and BJP. And, come on guys, they're a year old and they have no money. They're not built out of billions like the Congress and the BJP. Be a little patient. It's a scrappy startup taking on the evil empires. Luke Skywalker against Darth Vader. Give it a chance.

Then I'm told you want a government with experience? Really? What has decades of experience of BJP and Congress brought us? Just to this sorry state of affairs. We don't need Ph D's and grey beards to govern - a base of honesty, integrity and transparency is a far better place to start than 30 or 50 years of thievery and injustice. It's always better to vote for a honest novice than for an experienced thief.

But, you say, "aren't these AAP guys are communist / socialist / Trotskyist or whatever?" Actually, I don't think so. They're a party where the ideology is still forming and where the fundamental base is honesty and integrity. But they at least have a manifesto out. The BJP doesn't yet, by the way.

And as far as being more democratic versus being more Republican, like Modi, I don't mind paying more taxes - if those taxes actually go to build better roads, schools and hospitals that my children and their children can use - and not into Ambani's, Adani's, Pawar's, Sonia's or Praful's pockets, or pockets of the top 0.1%.

From what I've seen, the AAP folks reflect the will of their members and voters. I personally think their resistance to FDI in retail is stupid - and I've told them so, whenever I've met one of their functionaries. And their response is refreshing" "Sir, come and talk with us, explain why you think so, and we're happy to change our minds if we believe you're right". Now I haven't heard any other party say anything like this. Their answers are usually "Kitne paise doge?"

So can these guys get 272 seats to form a government? Perhaps not. But I don't think anyone else will. And if we are going to be faced with a hung and horse-trading parliament, it's good to have as many new, honest folks in there as possible instead of experienced horse-traders. Give honesty and integrity a vote for a change instead. Every vote counts, every seat counts.

And if it's a hung parliament, it's fine. It's ok. We'll have mid-term polls and more of the honest will get voted in. And if that doesn't do it fully, we'll have another mid-term poll. I have no problem with more mid-term polls. It's painful, but not that huge a price to pay, compared to the benefit of flushing out the rogues.

We'll need one or more re-boots of parliament to get these corrupt Congress BJP, Ambani and Adani viruses out of our system - and the sooner the reboot the better.

And if a hung parliament will cause the reboot, so be it. Let's vote for a hung parliament. Let's deny the 272 and the rule of Ambani.

Oh, as some of you have wondered, why isn't more information coming out about Modi and Congress and Reliance in media?

That's why. These are the only places you'll see a Modi wave, and not on the ground.

Neither of these folks own Facebook or Twitter or Google Plus yet. (Where, by the way, the AAP leads the others by far in engagement, despite the bigger bucks the old guard is throwing around. And despite the BJP guys coming and spitting venom in my comments as they've done every time. You're welcome again, folks )

So if you believe this post might be a point of view to get across to others, then you could help.

By sharing it with your friends.

Thank you.

And this why i will vote/support AAP to an extent though this doesn't directly imply that ofcourse by Swaminathan Subramaniam-

Dilemma of the undecided Indian
April 6, 2014 at 4:48pm

This election, I will not be voting for the UPA, considering the ten years of misrule they have heaped upon us.

But then I will not vote for the NDA either even though the record of the last NDA government was much much better than any Congress government in my living memory. But I dont care much for the leadership they are seeking to foist on us.

I do not plan to hide behind the NOTA option as that defeats the purpose of elections.

But I will vote.

My candidate will not win, in much the same way no candidate I have voted for has ever won. Thats not okay with me, but I do not really have a choice, caught as I am between a bad choice and a worse choice.

Dont ask me who the bad choice is or the worse choice is, but let me tell you that having been a keen follower of Indian politics, the BJP and the Congress are two sides of the same coin. We need a new coin. To those of you who condemn the Congress for its corruption I say, the BJP is no better.

Until we have campaign finance reform, we cannot expect honesty from those that rule us. Which is why in this day and age, definitions have changed. The honest politician is one who does not make money for himself but for the party. The dishonest chap keeps it for himself and gives some to the party.

The total amount of money that will be spent in this elections by all the parties put together will be nothing less than Rs 20,000 crore. In places like Andhra, the spend by a single candidate in a constituency could be as high as Rs 40 crore. In places like Kerala, Tripura and West Bengal where parties will be frugal, the spend by a candidate in a constituency will not be south of Rs 1 crore, if one were to add up all the costs. There are 542 constituencies going to the polls and in each of them, there will be atleast 3 serious candidates spending oodles of money to buy votes. The cost of getting a vote today is north of Rs 1000 in cash transfers, not to mention the marketing spend. The cash transfer amount has gone up this time around, my sources tell me. So go on do your math.

This kind of money cannot be raised without looting the exchequer in the current framework. And if a candidate spends this kind of money given to him by his friends, do you think the friends wont want a piece of the action? Whether you vote for the BJP or the Congress, the story will be the same.

The paradigm has to change, the frame work has to be altered. It can be done, but it will take time. It has to be done bit by bit, one step at a time. Things can change, if you want it to change, if I want it to change.

This may sound blasphemous to you but there will always be corruption in high places that you and I can do precious little about. I honestly believe that if we can get our government to deliver the little things, the stuff I will lump together under what I will call civic services, 99% of us will have less reason to complain. If the roads get built, if we get 24x7 water and electricity, if the schools are staffed and have children going to school, if the primary health centres have adequate medicines, if the roads are clean and of better quality and so on.

In our world where corruption has become democratized, the MP who we are going to vote for depends on the MLA to bring in the vote and has to therefore let the MLA conduct an organised loot in his area. The MLA on his part depends on the nagar sevak or the corporator to rustle up the vote and therefore lets this chap have a free run in his area. This works like a well oiled machine.

There are two approaches you can take to deal with garbage in a city. You can set up a sewage treatment plant where the water flows into the sea, or you can ensure that the garbage generated in each household is separated before it is picked up for disposal. The latter approach works best and that is what we need to do to clean up our society.

To choke off the corruption at the corporator level is much easier than to deal with the MP's shenanigans. But if you choke off the corporators loot flow, the MLA too will be affected and by extension the MP. Charity begins at home, they say and so does the clean up. Politics will suddenly not be a lucrative proposition and the looters will have to find other means of livelihood.

Because if you do so, you can make your vote count. May be not this time, but certainly the next time. That is my game plan.

Also to prevent every Yeddyurappa from Looting in government you need a strong opposition. That's the whole point of this democratic system. Also, need MP's with new ideas and will.